Center for Craft Grants and Fellowships

Overview

The Center for Craft invests in the next generation of makers, curators, and scholars through grants and fellowships that legitimize the study and practice of craft by providing resources, fostering craft studies, exhibitions, and conferences.

Programs

• Teaching Artist Cohort: Grants and a six-month cohort experience for mid-career artists who also teach (2026 Awards Announced in August)
• Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residency: An eight-week residency in Asheville, North Carolina, for makers to explore new materials and processes (2026 Awards Announced)
• Craft Archive Fellowship: Awards for archival research on underrepresented and nondominant craft histories in the United States (Applications currently closed)
• Windgate-Lamar Fellowship: Selected by nomination each year for 10 emerging artists who show exemplary skill in craft (Applications currently closed)
• WNC Craft Futures Fund: Phased relief and recovery grants for artists in Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene (Applications currently closed)
• Craft-Based Education Grant: Grants for previous Teaching Artist Cohort awardees to develop teaching tools with support from a mentor (Applications currently closed)
• Craft Research Fund Grant: Grants for new and interdisciplinary research about craft in the United States (Grant Paused)
• Curatorial Fellowship: A 10-month program to give emerging curators a platform to explore and test new ideas about craft (Applications Currently Closed)

Research Grants

• Craft Research Fund—Project Grant: Grants up to $15,000 for research, writing, support documentation, images or rights to use images or text, as part of craft research yet to be completed (Applications Closed)
• Craft Research Fund—Graduate Grant: Grants of up to $5,000 support research related to a Master's thesis relating to United States studio craft by students enrolled in graduate programs in an accredited college or university (Applications Closed)